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Japan's Pikachu parade draws hundreds of Pokemon fans

Pokemon fans have flocked to the Japanese city of Yokohama for an annual Pikachu parade. Some 50 life-sized Pikachus marched in the streets while Pokemon Go players searched for rare monsters on their smartphones.

Pikachu on parade

For the third year in a row, Yokohama was overrun with a fleet of cheerful yellow monsters from the popular Pokemon games and movies. Around 50 life-sized Pikachus marched through the streets to the delight of hundreds of fans.

Japan's Pokemon 'outbreak'

The festival "Pikachu Tairyou Hassei-Chu" - or "An Outbreak of Pikachus" - was first launched in 2014. The event has turned into a yearly Pokemon celebration, complete with parade floats and dancing events around the city.

A fan's dream

Hundreds of enthusiastic fans donned Pikachu visors and vied for the best spots to snap a picture or take a video of the passing Pikachus.

Beloved character

Pikachu is a yellow, rodent-like Pokemon, and is one of the most recognized characters from the Pokemon franchise. The electrically charged monster stopped dancing for a moment to receive a hug from a fan.

Beating the heat

Performers and crowds alike cooled off with water sprayers as the troop of yellow monsters danced along Yokohama's waterfront street.

Worldwide craze

Pokemon, short for "pocket monster," has seen a resurgence in popularity since the global launch of the smartphone app Pokemon Go. Although the festival in Yokohama has no official connection to the app, many visitors hoped to catch "rare" Pokemon during the Pikachu festivities.

Herding Pikachu performers

Pokemon have been popular in Japan since the first game was launched in 1996 for Nintendo's Game Boy console. The brand expanded into other media, including a popular anime TV show and several movies.

Pikachu on parade

For the third year in a row, Yokohama was overrun with a fleet of cheerful yellow monsters from the popular Pokemon games and movies. Around 50 life-sized Pikachus marched through the streets to the delight of hundreds of fans.

Japan's Pokemon 'outbreak'

The festival "Pikachu Tairyou Hassei-Chu" - or "An Outbreak of Pikachus" - was first launched in 2014. The event has turned into a yearly Pokemon celebration, complete with parade floats and dancing events around the city.

A fan's dream

Hundreds of enthusiastic fans donned Pikachu visors and vied for the best spots to snap a picture or take a video of the passing Pikachus.

Beloved character

Pikachu is a yellow, rodent-like Pokemon, and is one of the most recognized characters from the Pokemon franchise. The electrically charged monster stopped dancing for a moment to receive a hug from a fan.

Beating the heat

Performers and crowds alike cooled off with water sprayers as the troop of yellow monsters danced along Yokohama's waterfront street.

Worldwide craze

Pokemon, short for "pocket monster," has seen a resurgence in popularity since the global launch of the smartphone app Pokemon Go. Although the festival in Yokohama has no official connection to the app, many visitors hoped to catch "rare" Pokemon during the Pikachu festivities.

Herding Pikachu performers

Pokemon have been popular in Japan since the first game was launched in 1996 for Nintendo's Game Boy console. The brand expanded into other media, including a popular anime TV show and several movies.